North Carolina may be famous for pulled pork, hush puppies and devotion to distinctly regional barbecue sauces, but the state’s newest culinary bragging right comes with homemade pasta and a legendary wine cellar.
Ristorante Paoletti in Highlands has been named the top fine-dining restaurant in the United States in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The longtime Northern Italian restaurant finished ahead of celebrated dining rooms in New York City, Las Vegas and Miami Beach—and placed No. 16 in the world.
